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PUBLICATIONS

Optimization Calculations for a 30 HZ, 4 K Regenerator with Helium-3 Working Fluid

Published

Author(s)

Ray Radebaugh, Yonghua Huang, Agnes A. O'Gallagher, John M. Gary

Abstract

The NIST numerical software, REGEN3.3, which incorporates both He-4 and He-3 properties, was used to calculate the losses and second law efficiencies of 4 K regenerators operating at 30 Hz. Operating parameters, such as average pressure, pressure ratio, and warm-end temperature were varied to investigate the effect of non-ideal gas properties. Regenerator parameters, such as matrix material and shape, hydraulic diameter, and regenerator geometry, were varied to investigate losses due to non-ideal regenerator behavior. The results show that He-3 can increase the regenerator efficiency by a factor of at least 2 compared to a regenerator optimized for He-4. A layered regenerator of gadolinium oxysulfate (GOS) at the cold end and ErPr at the warm end is the best of many material combinations. A regenerator with parallel holes of about 20 % porosity showed only slight improvement over one with packed spheres. The regenerator warm-end temperature has little effect on its efficiency for temperatures below 35 K and pressures of 1.0 MPa and above. An optimized 4 K He-3 regenerator uses layered GOS and ErPr with the warm end at about 30 K and an average pressure of about 1.0 MPa. With those optimum conditions a reduced regenerator loss of 0.36 and a regenerator second law efficiency of 25 % are achieved.
Proceedings Title
OPTIMIZATION CALCULATIONS FOR A 30 HZ, 4 K REGENERATOR WITH HELIUM-3 WORKING FLUID
Volume
1218
Conference Dates
June 28-July 2, 2009
Conference Location
Tucson, AZ
Conference Title
2009 Cryogenic Engineering Conference/International Cryogenic Materials Conference (CEC/ICMC)
Pub Type
Conferences

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DOI Link

Keywords

Cryogenics, cryocoolers, helium-4, helium-3, modeling, pulse tube cryocoolers, regenerators, Stirling cryocoolers
Chemical engineering and processing, Chemical thermodynamics and chemical properties and Thermochemical properties

Citation

Radebaugh, R. , Huang, Y. , O'Gallagher, A. and Gary, J. (2009), Optimization Calculations for a 30 HZ, 4 K Regenerator with Helium-3 Working Fluid, OPTIMIZATION CALCULATIONS FOR A 30 HZ, 4 K REGENERATOR WITH HELIUM-3 WORKING FLUID, Tucson, AZ, [online], https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3422340 (Accessed October 16, 2025)

Issues

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Created June 28, 2009, Updated November 10, 2018
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